Automatic radio program selector



Aug. 22, 1950 A. A. MILLER 2,519,686

AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR I ATTORNEYS A ug. 22, 1950 A. A. MILLER AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11 INVENTOR ALBERT A MlLLER w A mr@ AT ORNEYS Aug. 22, 1950 A A, MILLER 2,519,686

AUTOMATIC RADIO PRCGRAM SELECTOR Filed May ll, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 52? RADIO Racen/ER L (E 7 /o Q 53 1w T T @f5 f3 5f /Z 6"/ 5o 7 M Asc 5a 50 60 WU 47 4 44 f I f f f i f- AuToMATlc RADIO K g PRcQRAM ELEcToR \NVENTOR ALBERT AMILLER ATT RNEYS Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,519,686 AUtroMA'rIC .RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Albert A. Miller, Madison, Wis.

Application May. 11 194,6, Serial No. `669,194l

2 Claims. l

My invention ,appertains to radio 'receiving sets and more 'particularly to an automatic :program selector for such receiving sets.

The main object of my Vinvention is to provide means for detachably associating a daily radio program chart, as found printed in the newspaf pers, `with 'the automatic radio vprograms selector, whereby t electively aidl the user of the radio receiving set in his selection of the desired pro-` grams for the. day and. .ia facilitate the plugging in of the desired stations and programs, so that the user of the .set will .not 'have i0 10.0K up the stations or the times, either on the time or station indicator. unless S0 desired, by merely illusging directly into the favored programs on the @.hirt thefby eliminating Waste. O tulle @fr @TS1 confusion, ctc,

One ofthe pr-maly Objects of my inventicn is to provide a novel attachment for radio receiving sets, whereby selected radio broadcasting stations can be automatically received and cut Out at predetermined times and at the. will of the usar 0f the set.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide an automatic vprogram selector for radio receiving sets in which the desired programs or stations can be selectedv by the user of the set for the entire day and at one time, Vso that the receiving set or a'ttahment will need no attem tion. from the usar 0f the Sei far the rast 0f the day.

further important object of my invention is to provide an automatic program selector for radio receiving sets which embodies spaced conductor strips vfor different periods of time during the day and spaced .conductor strips for the various radio broadcasting stations, with means, under control of the user o f the set, for electrically connecting the selected station strips 'with time strips at the desired time intervals, continuously operated means being provided for automatically sluiting the correct time Strips in the electric control 'circuits at the correct time 40f day.

A further important object of my invention is to provide means for arranging the time strips and the station selector strips in the attachment relative to printed radio programs, whereby, when such printed programs lare correctly associated with the attachment, the user of the receiving set can quickly and readily plug in his selected braadaatine stations for the day.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means associated 'with the continuously operated time strip control mechanism for indi- 2 eating to the user of the set the time of the day and the time strip which is in circuit.

A still further important object of my invenf tion is to provide means whereby electric aopliances and the like can be automatically cut in an electric circuit at any selected time interval during the day. v A.

A still further o'oject of my invention is 'to provide an automatic program selector attach. ment for radio receiving sets which will be dura: ble and eflcient in use, one that will be sim-ple and easy to manufacture and one which can ybe readily operated by a layman with little or no knowledge of electrical apparatus.- u

With these and other objects in View, the in.- vention consists in the novel construction, ar.- rangement and formation of parts, as will. `be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my novel control unit for radio program selectors', various parts of the ligure being shown broken away and lsection to illustrate structural detail. i

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the control unit taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows, the vieur sho-wing the removable drawer or slide for ref ceiving a printed radio program.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View through the control unit taken on the line 3.-3of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrowaillus'trating the automatically and continuously operated belt for cutting in the correct conductor'time strips at ypredetermined time intervals.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of 4the arrows. v

Eig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the conductor lplu-gs, the View being on a larger scale than Figs. l to ,4 inclusive; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the various circuits for the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughcut the several views, the letter A generally indicates my novel radio program selector for a radio receiving set Sl.

The radio receiving s et S forms ho part of the present invention, other than the means of electrically connecting the program selector with certain parts thereof as will be later :set forth. The receiving set is oi the push button selector type and these push buttons have been indicated by the reference characters '1,.8, 5, l0. and Il.

. alongside In order to automatically actuate these buttons, I provide a solenoid l2 for each button. Each solenoid includes a sliding core i3, which is operatively connected to the button by means of a connector link I4', or any other suitable mechanism. The solenoids are preferably placed in the cabinet of the receiving set S in back of the push buttons and when a selected solenoid is energized, its core will be drawn in and selected push button will be pulled into the set to bring about the selection of a certain radio broadcaststation.

My automatic radio program selector energizes a selected solenoid l2 at a certain selected time automatically and through means which will now be described. The program selector preferably includes a cabinet i5 ywhich can be ornamented or iinished to present a, pleasing and attractive appearance to the purchasing public. As illustrated, the cabinet I5 includes a bottomwall l, upstanding front and rear walls ii and i3, and end walls I9 and 23. The top orthe cabinet can be closed by a, hinged cover 2l' and this cover can carry a transparent panel 22, whereby the user of the set can look into thecabinet.

Arranged within the cabinet is a main partition plate 23. This partition plate is disposed in a horizontal plane and is preferably formed from' insulating material. This partition plate 23 can be secured in place in the cabinet in any desired way, such as by the use of supporting ,strips 24 rigidly carried by the walls of the cabinet. Secured to the lower face of the plate are. spaced transversely extending conductor strips/25,123, 2l, 28 and 29. These stripscorrespond tothe number of push buttons on the radio-receiving set and, consequently, I have shown Vlive of these conductor strips and the same will be hereinafter referred to as station conductor strips. Imbedded in the upper face oi the plate 23 are a plurality of equidistantly spacedfconductor strips 3l] and these strips 3i! are utilized in conjunction with a continuously operated time' mechanism forbringing one strip ata time,v at fteen minute time intervals, into anle'lectric circuit, as will be hereinafter referred to as time conductor stripsA The time conductor strips 36 are arranged at right angles to the station conductor strips 25, 26, 2l, 28 andv29 and these strips are carefully arranged and located relative to one another and to a certain type of printed radio program; which is printed daily incertain newspapers. Such printed radio program is indicated by the reference character 3| and it .is to be noted that the programs to be 'broadcast by certain sta-tions are arranged in vertical columns and that the time is arranged of the programs being broadcast and that such time is arranged in fteen minute intervals. Consequently, there is a time conductor strip for each fifteen minute interval of the day from 6:00 oclock in the morning to midnight at night, but, obviously the selection of programs could continue on after midnight if such should be desirable, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The plate 23 is provided with transverse rows ofl openings 32 therein and there is a row of openings for each broadcasting station and these Vopenings extend through the station conductor strips and alongside of the time conductor strips 3i). By vinserting a plug 33, of electrical con- "ducting material, in a selected opening in the 'rows of openings, a certain station conductor Ll (l strip can be connected with a certain time conductor strip. Obviously there are a plurality of these conductor plugs and each plug can be provided with a shoulder 34 for limiting the downward inserting movement thereof in the plate. Each plug can be provided with a finger piece 35 to facilitate the handling thereof and the plugs can take the appearance of miniature canes so that the same will have a distinctive appearance. i

Cooperating'with the vplate 23 is a slide or drawer 36 which carries the printed program sheet 3l. The slide 36 is pulled out of the cabinet through a slot 3i formed in one end wall 20 and the same can be provided with a suitable manipulating handle 38. This slide is preferably constructed from a top section 39 and a bottom removable section Sii which iits within the lupper section. The upper section is formed from transparent material and the printed radio programl is clamped between the top and bottom sections and these sections can be held tight against one another against accidental displacement by clips, if so desired (not shown) This slide is provided with equidistant- 1y spaced transverse rows of openings 4l which correspond exactly to the rows of openings 32 in the main partition plate 2,3 and when the drawer or slide is in its fully inserted position in the cabinet, the openings 4i register with the openings 32. Care is taken by the user of the set to see that the printed program is arranged neatly in the slide with the openings 4I in proper position between the radio broadcasting station indications and the vertical columns of the proe grams to be broadcast.

Arranged above the drawer or slide 36 is a second partition plate 42 and this plate is also formed of transparent material and is arranged in a horizontal plane in the cabinet. This transparent partition plate A42 is held against movement rigidly in the cabinet in any preferred manner and is also provided with a plurality of equidistantly spacedtransverse rows of openings 43, and these openings correspond exactly to the openings 32 in the main partition plate Z3 and register with such openings and with the openings 4lv in the slide, when the slide is in its fully inserted position. This plate forms a protection for the slide 3| and for certain other parts located within the cabinet. The plugs 33, which are not being used, can be laid in the cabinet on top of this partition plate. Obviously these plugs are held against loss by the pivoted cover From the description so far, it can be seen that when a plug 33 is inserted in a selected opening of the rows of openings, the same will Igo through the top partition plate 42, the slide 3l and the main partition plate 23 and will puncture the printed radio program sheet. It is to be noted that the cabinet i5 has its front wall provided with a plurality of conductor terminals 44, 45, 46, 4l and 4B. TheV terminals 44, 45, 46, 4l and 48 are electrically connected respectively to the station strips 25, 26, 2l, 28 and 29. As heretobefore stated, there is a station conductor strip for each push button of the radio receiving set Sand that there, is a solenoid i2 for each button. One terminal of each solenoid l2 is electrically connected by means of a wire 49 with the corresponding station conductor strip in the cabinet and the other terminals of all of the solenoids are electrically connected, by

labeled manual means of bridge wires 50, to a common conductor Wire 5|.

The radio receiver itself is provided with the usual lead and return wires 52 and 53 and these wires are adapted to be electrically connected with the house current or to any other suitable source of supply. It is to be noted, however, that the wire 53 has incorporated therein a switch 54, which is operated by an electro-magnet 55. It is preferred to have the current flowing to and from the automatic radio program selector A or" a low voltage and, consequently, a transformer 5t can be employed. One coil of the transformer has its opposite terminals electrically connected respectively to the lead and return wires 52 and 53 and the other coil of the transformer has electrically connected to its terminals the wires 57 and 53. The magnet E5 is energized at certain times, as will be later set forth, and it is to be noted at this time that the opposite terminals of the magnet has electrically connected thereto wires 5e and til. The wire 50 is electrically connected with the wire 5l and the wire 5d has electrically connected thereto the wire 5l leading from the solenoids i2.

In conjunction with the automatic radio program selector, I utilize a manually operated switch il and this switch can be connected with the cabinet i5, if such should be desired. The switch includes a throw lever 62 movable to either a contact 33 labeled auto-matic, or to a contact The lever S2 can be moved to an intermediate position between the contacts 63 and $4 to a neutral oi position. The wire 58, from the transformer, is electrically connected to the throw lever E52. The wire 59, from the magnet 55, is electrically connected to the contact @ii of the switch. The contact 53, from the switch, has electrica ly connected therewith a wire 6?, 'which is electrically connected to a terminal tit carried by the cabinet l5. This terminal is utilized `for conducting the current into the cabinet and through a time conductor strip 3B at the proper time of the day. These conductor time strips 3@ are brought into play, at the proper time, through the use oi an electric clock or chronometer El and an endless conductor belt t3. The belt @8 preferably is made from a relatively wide strip of nonconducting material carrying an endless conductor strip S9. This endless conductor strip 69 wipes past the conductor terminal t@ and, consequently, the conductor strip te is in constant electrical engagement with the terminal Sii. The belt 68 is trained over suitable idle guide rollers il and a feed or drive roller l2 which is actuated by a mechanism controlled by the electric chronom eter til. The belt ES is located within the cabinet l5 and the electric clock can also be housed therein if so desired.

As the clcci-f; is oi the type now found in the open market, the same will not be described in detail and has merely been shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6. but it is to be noted that the clock includes an hour hand shaft 73. This shaft has secured thereto, for rotation therewith, a ratchet wheel lit. The ratchet wheel includes four ratchet teeth 'i5 located at quarters around the wheel for a purpose which will be later set forth. t is to be noted that the clock has its terminals electrically connected with the wires `5'! and 5% leading from the transformer and, hence, this cloclr. is continuously operated at all times as long as current is supplied thereto.

The mechanism for advancing the belt in a step by step movement every fifteen minutes and to a new time strip 33 includes a ratchet lever "It rockably mounted on the shaft of the feed roller l2, and this shaft, for the feed roller, has keyed or otherwise fastened thereto a ratchet wheel Tl. The ratchet lever 'i6 carries spaced ratchet dogs 'i8 for operative engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 77 so that when the ratchet lever is operated and swung a certain distance, the roller will be turned a certain distance and, consequently, the belt will be advanced a certain distance. The ratchet lever is operated by the pivoted armature 'I9 of an electro-magnet de, and each time the magnet is energized, the armature 'I9 will operate the ratchet lever the desired distance and against the tension of a spring 8i. The spring 8i functions to normally7 hold the ratchet lever down and in a position for actuation by the armature. Obviously the dogs I8 merely ratchet over the ratchet wheel 'il' when the ratchet lever moves back to its normal inoperative position. The electro-magnet d is energized through a circuit controlled by a switch 32 and this switch 82 is automatically operated by the electric clock or chronometer tl. The switch 82 includes a relatively short stati nary contact arm 83 and a relatively long contact arm 85. The contacts carried by the arms are normally separated by the inherent resiliency oi the arm lill. This arm 84 is arranged in the path of the teeth l5 on the clock operated ratchet wheel lll and, consequently, the arms 83 and will be moved into electrical contact momentajiy once every iiteen minutes. The arm 83 is electrically connected to a wire 35 which is electrically connected to one terminal oi the magnet 8), and the other terminal of the magnet t@ has electrically connected thereto a conductor wire t, which, in turn, leads to and is electrically connected with the wire 57 leading from the transformer, The long arm 84 of the circuit closure 82 is electrically connected with the wire 53 by a conductor 3l.

The belt et cooperates with the time strips 3i) and the belt carries one or more pointers 32. These pointers are formed of electrical conducting material and are in electrical contact with the conductor wire 6% carried by the belt. Each pointer alii provided with a wiper foot Sil, which successively engages contact points 9&3. There is a contact point for each time strip and the contact points are arranged in a transverse column parallel with the station conductor strips 25, 26, 2l, lill and 29. Hence, it can be seen that there is an electrical communication between the terminal et, the belt 68 and a time strip 3S, and that when a conductor plug 33 is in position, such plug will establish communication between a station strip and a time strip.

In operation oi my automatic radio program selector it can be seen that the control switch handle $2 is either positioned on the automatic contact 63, the manual contact Ed, or in an oil neutral position.

if it is desired to operate the radio receiver manually and in the ordinary way, the switch lever 62 is moved into contact with the terminal 6d and the current flow will be as follows: From the secondary coil of the transformer 5t, through wire 58, through switch lever S2, contact point or terminal Gd, through wire 5S, through the electro-magnet to wire 5l, through the wire 55. This will energize the magnet 55 and the armature lill will be attracted thereby and the switch controlled by the armature will be closed. Current will then iiow Vinto the receiver through the wires 52 and 53 and the user of the set manipulates the same in the ordinary way, that is, by pushing in on the buttons for tuning.

If it is desired to operate the radio receiver automatically, then the switch lever 62 is moved into electrical contact with the terminal or contact point 53 and the automatic radio program selector is ready for operation.

r.he user of the set, of course, cuts or tears the radio program from the newspaper and places the same in correct position over the section 4i) of the slide 35, after which the section 39 of the slide is placed over the section 4Q into intimate tight engagement with the printed program and the edges of the program or paper are now trimmed off and the slide is reinserted in the cabinet l5. Care is taken by the user to have the columns of programs under the station headings Vin proper alignment between the station conductor strips and this can be located by the user by the openings in the slide. Care is also taken that the correct time for the programs is in alignment or parallel with the time strips and this is also located by the openings in the slide.

The user now takes a series of the plugs and selects the stations that he wishes to hear during the day and the time that he wishes to hear these stations. In Fig. l a few examples are shown and by referring to this gure it can be seen that the user has inserted a plug for 6:15 in the morning for station WIBA, a second plug 33 has been inserted for 6:30 in the morning for station WBBM.

A third plug has been inserted for 7 :30 in the morning for station WGN. A fourth plug has been inserted for 10:30 in the morning for station WBBM. Obviously any number of stations for different periods of the day can be selected and actually a diierent program can be selected for every fteen minutes of the day.

Considering that it is '7 :30 in the morning, it can be seen (from Fig. l) that a plug 33 has been inserted for that time for station WGN, then the current iiow will be as follows: from the secondary coil of the transformer through wire 58, switch lever 62, contact point 63, wire 65, terminal 66, belt 63, to the contact point 90 for the time strip Si? for 7 :30 in the morning. The current ows from this time strip to the plug 33, through station strip 26, through terminal 45, and through the wire 49 attached thereto; through the solenoid i2 for push button l0, to Wire 5l, through electro-magnet 55 and back to wire 5l to the transformer, through the wire 50. The switch 54 will close the circuit to the radio receiver and the current owing through the solenoid for the push button I0 will operate this push button and tune in station WGN. This station will remain on for the selected fteen minute interval and if it is desired to maintain this station tuned in, then additional plugs should be inserted in the openings for that station. Y

As previously brought out, the electric chronometer Ei is continuously operated and, consequently, at every fteen minute interval of time the belt will be advanced from one contact et to the next adjacent contact 90. This is accomplished through the ratchet lever T6, as previously described. Hence, it can be seen that after the radio has been tuned in, say for 7:30 in the morning for station WGN, and a fifteen minute interval has expired, then the contact and pointer 8S will ride off of the contact point 90 for the time strip 3B for 7:30 in the morning and will engage the next contact point for the contact strip 36 for 7:45 inthe morning. If no program has been selected for that time, then no current ow will take place through the program selector, in that there is no conductor plug 33 in position for that period or interval of time in the morning.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided an exceptionally simple mechanism for permitting the playing automatically of a radio receiver over an entire day period of programs preselected by the user of the receiving set.

My apparatus can also be successfully used for operating one or more electric appliances at diiierent periods during the day and for the purpose of illustration, I have shown an electric bell B, which is adapted to be placed in circuit at a selected time or times. It is to be understood that the electric bell B is merely illustrative and that any electrical appliance could be substituted therefor. In order to bring about the operation of the appliance, I utilize an appliance conductor strip Eil. rhis strip is parallel to the station strips and functions in the same manner as the station strips and is carried by the main partition plate The time strips 3i) extend over this appliance conductor strip 5i and the appliance strip is provided with a row of openings 92 which register with a row oi openings 93 in the partition plate 23, and these openings are so arranged as to be directly alongside of the time conductor strips Sil. A terminal 94 carried by the cabinet is in electrical communication with the appliance conductor strip 9| and this terminal has connected therewith an electric wire @5 which leads to the main wire 5l. The bell B or other electrical appliance is incorporated in the length oi this wire. If a conductor plug is inserted in the openings 33 and 92, for a certain time, when that time is reached the electric circuit through the bell will be closed and the bell will be operated. For example, say that a plug 33 is inserted in the openings Q2 and 93 for the time conductor strip 3B at 6:00 in the morning. This plug would electrically engage the time strip 30 for that time in the morning and would electrically engage the appliance conductor strip 9| and, hence, the current iiow would be as follows: From Wire 58, through switch lever 52, wire 65, terminal 66, belt 58, contact pointer 89, Contact 9B and the conductor time strip for 6:00 in the morning, through appliance conductor strip 9|, through terminal 9d, wire 95, through the bell and to wire 5i.

Changes in detaiis may be made Without departing from the spirit or the scope oi my invention, but what I claim as new is:

l. In a device for automatically tuning a radio receiving set, a control unit for closing and opening circuits at selected pre-determined times comprising a cabinet, a partition plate in said cabinet, a plurality of spaced conductor station strips arranged in parallel relation on said plate, a plurality of equi-distantly spaced time conductor strips carried by said plate and arranged at right angles to the conductor station strips and insulated therefrom, each of said time conductor strips representing a certain time interval during the day, said plate having a plurality of spaced parallel rows of openings extending therethrough, an opening being arranged substantially at the point of crossing of each time conductor strip with each static-n conductor strip, a movable conductor, automatic means for successively bringing the conductor in electrical contact with the time strips at the proper time interval, a printed radio program detachably associated With said plate and located in certain predetermined relation relative to the time and station conductor strips and the openings in said plate, and conductor plugs insertable directly through the printed radio program and selectively insertable in said openings for electrically connecting selected station strips with selected time strips.

2. In a device for automatically tuning a radio receiving set, a control unit for closing and opening circuits at selected pre-determined times comprising a cabinet, a partition plate in said cabinet, a plurality of spaced conductor station strips arranged in parallel relation. on said plate, a plurality of equi-distantly spaced time conductor strips carried by said plate and arranged at right angles to the conductor station strips and insulated therefrom, each of said time conductor strips representing a certain time interval during the day, said plate having a plurality of spaced parallel rows of openings extending therethrough, an opening being arranged substantially at the point of crossing of each time conductor strip with each station conductor strip, a movable conductor, automatic means for successively l0 bringing about the conductor in electrical contact with the time strips at the proper time interval, a sliding drawer mounted in said cabinet over said plate having rows of openings therein corresponding to the openings in the plate, a printed radio program detachably associated with said drawer arranged in pre-determined relation relative to said openings, and conductor plugs insertable directly through the printed program and into selected openings in the drawer and plate for electrically connecting selected station strips with selected time strips.

ALBERT A. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,050,719 McClure Aug. 1l, 1936 2,030,330 Ottawaj,7 May 11, 1937 2,124,195 Jones July 1e, 1938 2,235,722 Murray Mar. 18, 1941 2,248,144 /Vestby July 8, 1941 2,337,568 Owens Dec. 28, 1943 2,346,623 Stewart et a1 Apr. 11, 1944 

